Refuse compacting appliance

ABSTRACT

A refuse compacting appliance comprises a housing having top and bottom portions that are secured to each other by reinforcing metal ties, a forward open panel through which a refuse receptacle can be stored in the housing when at least partly empty and withdrawn from the housing when full, and a pressure applying mechanism, which incorporates a pressure plate in registration with the receptacle, a rotatable hand crank in association with a double ratchet mechanism that facilitates operation of the pressure plate, and a worm and gear reduction transmission for providing the necessary mechanical advantage for the exertion of a large force on the pressure plate. The arrangement is such that extremely high compacting pressures can be generated manually, trouble free operation can be prolonged despite such high pressures, and compacted refuse can be removed from the receptacle readily.

United States Patent [191 Leman 51 May 8,1973

[54] REFUSE COMPACTING APPLIANCE [22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,639

[52] U.S. Cl. ..100/229 A, 100/288 [51] Int. Cl. ..B30b 1/22 [58] Field of Search ..100/229 R, 229 A, l00/288 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 56,456 7/1866 Seeberger ct al. ..l0O/288 X 626,727 6/1899 Shepherd ..100/288 X 919,720 4/1909 Heagerty ..100/288 X 1,736,338 11/1929 Brown t ..100/288 X 2,757,603 8/1956 Wilson et al. ..100/288 X 2,875,808 3/1959 Nelson ..100/288 X 3,463,079 8/1969 Corbett ..100/288 X Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Att0rney-Gerald Altman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A refuse compacting appliance comprises a housing having top and bottom portions that are secured to each other by reinforcing metal ties, a forward open panel through which a refuse receptacle can be stored in the housing when at least partly empty and withdrawn from the housing when full, and a pressure applying mechanism, which incorporates a pressure plate in registration with the receptacle, a rotatable hand crank in association with a double ratchet mechanism that facilitates operation of the pressure plate, and a worm and gear reduction transmission for providing the necessary mechanical advantage for the exertion of a large force on the pressure plate. The arrangement is such that extremely high compacting pressures can be generated manually, trouble free operation can be prolonged despite such high pressures, and compacted refuse can be removed from the receptacle readily.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures REFUSE COMPACTING APPLIANCE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The present invention relates to the compaction of refuse, and, more particularly to an all mechanical applicance that is sufficiently small and portable for convenient home or commercial use and that is sufficiently efficacious and sturdy to meet heavy duty requirements. Prior compactors typically have relied upon electric, electrichydraulic or mechanical-hydraulic drives, which have increased cost as well as size and complexity.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a compactor that is characterized by a housing having upper and lower supports that are joined by rigid ties to define a chamber, a receptacle that can be installed in and removed from the chamber, and a compacting mechanism capable of compressing within the receptacle any refuse therewithin when the receptacle is in the chamber. The compacting mechanism includes a pressure plate in registration with the receptacle and capable of movement therewithin, a rotatable hand crank in association with a double ratchet movement that facilitates convenient operation of the pressure plate, and a worm and gear reduction transmission for providing the necessary mechanical advantage for exertion of a large force on the pressure plate. The arrangement is such that: comfortable operation of the crank is capable of exerting a large force on the pressure plate; the antibacklash operation of the ratchet movement enables compaction of refuse in the container while permitting ready removal of the pressure plates from the container; and the integrity of the entire unit is maintained by operation of the rigid ties associated with the chamber notwithstanding the large force exerted.

Other objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus, including its components and their interrelationships, which are exemplified in the following disclosure, the scope of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference is to be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. I is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with, portions therewithin shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is a partially broken away side elevation of the compactor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken away view of the compactor of FIG. 1, shown with the receptacle thereof withdrawn from chamber thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of the mechanism of the compactor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail plan view of a component of the compactor of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the compactor of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the illustrated compactor comprises a housing 20 having a rear panel 22, a pair of side panels 24, 26 and an open front 28, defining a chamber 30. Movable into and out of chamber 30 is a receptacle 32, which is carried by a dolly 34. Dolly 34 comprises a horizontal base plate 36, composed of heavy guage steel, and a vertical panel 38, which, when the receptacle is inserted into chamber 30, forms the front panel of housing 20. At the lower extremity of panel 38 are a pair of wheels 40, 42 which enable the dolly to be readily moved. Also at the front face of panel 38 are a handle 44, which enables the dolly to be pushed into and removed from chamber 30 easily, and a pivotal handle bar 46, which has a vertically extending shaft 47 that is pivotal in brackets 48, 50. Handle bar 46 is normally held in position by a bracket 54 but that may be pivoted into normal orientation with respect to panel 38 when lifted and swung outwardly in such a way as to cause the vertical shaft 47 to lift and a pin 56 to lock in a slot of bracket 48.

Within chamber 30 are a pair of lower horizontal L- shaped struts 58, 60 and a pair of upper horizontal L- shaped struts 62, 64. These struts are fixed with respect to each other by a series of vertical comer struts 66, 68, 70, 72. All of these struts are composed of heavy guage steel and are welded together at their joints. Underlying horizontal struts 58, 60, and secured to them is a lower panel 74. Underlying the horizontal extensions of upper struts 62, 64 is a cross plate 76 composed of heavy guage steel. When the receptacle 32 is within chamber 30, cross plate 36 rests on the horizontal extensions of lower horizontal struts 58, 60. A vertically movable, horizontal pressure plate 78 is positioned in parallel to and below cross plate 76. Pressure plate 78 is mounted at the lower extremity of a rack 80, which extends upwardly through a hole in cross plate 76 and which is controlled by a force exerting mechanism. At the rear of chamber 30 are a pair of cross struts 77, 79 and a pair of vertical struts 81, 83, all composed of heavy guage steel and all welded together at their joints. The horizontal extension of upper cross struts 62, 64, and 77 rest upon and are welded to cross plate 76. Cross Plate 74 underlies the horizontal extension of cross strut 79 when receptacle 32 is within chamber 30. The total intermal chamber arragement is such that the great pressure applied by pressure plate 78 is controlled between cross plates 36 and 74.

The mechanism by which rack 80 is controlled is best shown in FIG. 4 as comprising a mounting 82 on which the operating components function. Mounting 82, which is composed of a heavy duty iron casting, includes a pair of opposed, stepped, side walls 84, 86 from which outwardly extend lower flanges 88, 90. Flanges 88, 90 are bolted, as at 92, to cross plate 76. Extending between walls 84, 86 are a web 94 and the rearward and forward walls 96, 98 of a compartment 100. Journaled in walls 84, 86 for rotation is a shaft 102, to which are keyed a pinion 104, which meshes with rack 80 and a worm gear 106. Worm gear 106 is driven by a worm 108, which is keyed to a shaft 110 that is journaled in rear wall 96 and cross web 94. The rotation of shaft 1 10 is controlled through two ratchets 112, 114 by a crank 116. Ratchet 114 includes a ratchet wheel 118, a pawl 120, and a thumb lock 121.

Pawl 120 normally is biased by a spring 123 into engagement with ratchet wheel 118 but may be disengaged by thumb lock 121. Shaft 110 is keyed to a collar 125 which mounts pawl 120 and crank 116 is keyed to ratchet wheel 118 which rotates with respect to shaft 1 about its axis. Ratchet 1 12 includes a ratchet wheel 122 which rotates with shaft 112 and a pawl 124 which is pivoted on mounting 82. Positive driving force is directed through ratchets 112, 114 in the same rotational direction, counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 4, so that when, as viewed from the front of the apparatus, crank 116 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, ratchet wheel 122 also is rotated in a counter clockwise direction but is prevented by pawl 124 from returning in a clockwise direction when the crank is released. Paw] 124 can be released by pivotal movement of ratchet wheel 122 in a counterclockwise direction, releasing pressure of ratchet wheel 122 on pawl 124. Pawl 124 is locked in released position by a slide latch 126. A notch in latch 126 cooperates with a detent spring 128 in order to keep the latch in position. When latch 126 is in closed position, pawl 124 is disengaged from ratchet wheel 122 and slide latch 127 is set for clockwise ratchet movement, the pressure plate can be withdrawn from receptacle 32 by a clockwise rotation of shaft 110. The pressure plate is held in a fixed position above receptacle 32 by a clockwise setting of slide latch 127. When latch 126 is in open position, pawl 124 is engaged with ratchet wheel 122 and by setting slide latch 127 to counterclockwise position, the weight of pressure platen 78 causes rack 80 to fall downwardly under gravity. As ratchet wheel 122 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, pawl 124 rises and falls as ratchet wheel 122 slips with respect to it. Crank 116 is provided with an extentable tubular handle 1311 in order to enable high leverage when the crank is in use.

OPERATION In operation, with ratchet 114 inoperative by virtue of a slide latch 127, rotation of crank 116 causes rack 80 to elevate in such a way as to remove pressure platen 78 from within receptacle 32. A disposable plastic bag is placed in receptacle with its open upper end drapped over the sides of the receptacle. Receptacle 32 is thereby readily available for the discarding of refuse, receptacle 32 being moved out of and back into chamber 30 as needed in use. When the receptacle is filled to the top and receptacle 32 is in position within housing 30, latch 127 is released, pressure platen 80 falls on the refuse, and crank 116 through a series of cranking actions, causes shaft 110 to rotate. in consequence, pressure is exerted between pressure plate 78 and cross plate 36, the action being continued until the refuse is compacted at the bottom of the plastic bag in receptacle 32. Thereafter, rack 80 again is elevated in order to permit refuse of receptacle 32. As shown in FIG. 1, rack 80 rides within a vertically extending tube 130. As shown in FIG. 6, tube 130 may be hidden by a storage cabinet 132 which is mounted on the top panel of housing and which provides a chamber 134, a series of shelves 135 through holes in which tube 130 extends, and a pair of front doors 138.

CONCLUSION The present invention thereby provides a novel compactor which is highly effective when in use but which is unobtrusive when not in use either with respect to the space it occupies or the manner in which it is used. Since certain changes may be made in the disclosure hereon without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A refuse compacting appliance comprising a housing defining vertical panels and a vertical opening, a receptacle movable into said housing through said opening for storage and from said housing through said opening for filling, a horizontal cross mount carried by said housing above said chamber, a pressure plate below said cross mount, a rack having a lower extremity connected to said pressure plate, a mechanical force generating mechanism on said cross mount, said mechanical force generating mechanism including a crank shaft rotatably journaled on said cross mount, a worm gear mechanism operatively connected between said crank shaft and said pinion, a first ratchet mechanisms including a first ratchet wheel rotatable with said crank shaft and a first pawl pivoted on said cross mount, a second ratchet mechanism including a second ratchet wheel rotatable with said crank shaft and a second pawl, a handle rotatably mounted with respect to said cross mount, said pawl being pivoted with respect to said handle, said first pawl when engaged with said first ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft in one direction but not in the opposite direction, said first pawl when disengaged from said first ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft with respect to said handle in one direction but not in the opposite direction, said second pawl when disengaged from said second ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft in both directions with respect to said handle, said first pawl being normally engaged with said first ratchet wheel, said second pawl being normally engaged with said second ratchet wheel, a first latch when operative for causing said first pawl to be disengaged from said first ratchet wheel, a second latch when operative for causing said second pawl to be locked with respect to said second ratchet wheel, whereby reciprocation of said handle with said first latch and said second latch operative causes force to be exerted on said pressure plate and compaction of refuse in said receptacle, and rotation of said handle with said first latch and said second latch inoperative causes removal of said pressure platen from said receptacle.

2. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein a rigid frame within said housing retains said cross mount with respect to the base of said receptacle against the pressure exerted by said pressure plate.

3. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein said first ratchet wheel is keyed to said crank shaft and said second ratchet wheel is keyed to said crank shaft.

4. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein said frame includes two upper L-shaped struts and two lower L-shaped struts, said lower L-shaped struts having horizontal extensions, the base of said receptacle being carried by said horizontal extensions when said receptacle is within said chamber.

5. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is mounted on a dolly,-a portion of which constitutes a closure for said opening.

6. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein said rack sides vertically upwardly as said pressure plate is depressed and elevated.

7. A refuse compacting appliance comprising a housing defining vertical panels and a vertical opening, a receptacle movable into said housing through said opening for storage and from said housing through said opening for filling, a horizontal cross mount carried by said housing above said chamber, a pressure plate below said cross mount, a rack having a lower extremity connected to said pressure plate, a mechanical force generating mechanism on said cross mount, said mechanical force generating mechanism including a crank shaft rotatably journaled on said cross mount, a worm gear mechanism operatively connected between said crank shaft and said pinion, a first ratchet mechanism including a first ratchet wheel rotatable with said crank shaft and a first pawl pivoted on said cross mount, a second ratchet mechanism including a second ratchet wheel rotatable with said crank shaft and a second pawl, a handle rotatably mounted with respect to said cross mount, said pawl being pivoted with respect to said handle, said first pawl when engaged with said first ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft in one direction but not in the opposite direction, said first pawl when disengaged from said first ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft in both directions, said second pawl when engaged with said second ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft with respect to said handle in one direction but not in the opposite direction, said second pawl when disengaged from said second pawl when disengaged from said second ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft in both directions with respect to said handle, said first pawl being normally engaged with said first ratchet wheel, said second pawl being normally engaged with said second ratchet wheel, a first latch when operative forcausing said first pawl to be disengaged from said first ratchet wheel, a second latch when operative for causing said second pawl to be locked with respect to said second ratchet wheel, whereby reciprocation of said handle with said first latch and said second latch operative causes force to be exerted on said pressure plate and compaction of refuse in said receptacle, and rotation of said handle with said first latch and said second latch is inoperative causes removal of said pressure platen from said receptacle, and housing including a storage cabinet above said chamber, the path of travel of said rack being within said storage cabinet. 

1. A refuse compacting appliance comprising a housing defining vertical panels and a vertical opening, a receptacle movable into said housing through said opening for storage and from said housing through said opening for filling, a horizontal cross mount carried by said housing above said chamber, a pressure plate below said cross mount, a rack having a lower extremity connected to sAid pressure plate, a mechanical force generating mechanism on said cross mount, said mechanical force generating mechanism including a crank shaft rotatably journaled on said cross mount, a worm gear mechanism operatively connected between said crank shaft and said pinion, a first ratchet mechanisms including a first ratchet wheel rotatable with said crank shaft and a first pawl pivoted on said cross mount, a second ratchet mechanism including a second ratchet wheel rotatable with said crank shaft and a second pawl, a handle rotatably mounted with respect to said cross mount, said pawl being pivoted with respect to said handle, said first pawl when engaged with said first ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft in one direction but not in the opposite direction, said first pawl when disengaged from said first ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft with respect to said handle in one direction but not in the opposite direction, said second pawl when disengaged from said second ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft in both directions with respect to said handle, said first pawl being normally engaged with said first ratchet wheel, said second pawl being normally engaged with said second ratchet wheel, a first latch when operative for causing said first pawl to be disengaged from said first ratchet wheel, a second latch when operative for causing said second pawl to be locked with respect to said second ratchet wheel, whereby reciprocation of said handle with said first latch and said second latch operative causes force to be exerted on said pressure plate and compaction of refuse in said receptacle, and rotation of said handle with said first latch and said second latch inoperative causes removal of said pressure platen from said receptacle.
 2. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein a rigid frame within said housing retains said cross mount with respect to the base of said receptacle against the pressure exerted by said pressure plate.
 3. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein said first ratchet wheel is keyed to said crank shaft and said second ratchet wheel is keyed to said crank shaft.
 4. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein said frame includes two upper L-shaped struts and two lower L-shaped struts, said lower L-shaped struts having horizontal extensions, the base of said receptacle being carried by said horizontal extensions when said receptacle is within said chamber.
 5. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is mounted on a dolly, a portion of which constitutes a closure for said opening.
 6. The refuse compacting appliance of claim 1 wherein said rack sides vertically upwardly as said pressure plate is depressed and elevated.
 7. A refuse compacting appliance comprising a housing defining vertical panels and a vertical opening, a receptacle movable into said housing through said opening for storage and from said housing through said opening for filling, a horizontal cross mount carried by said housing above said chamber, a pressure plate below said cross mount, a rack having a lower extremity connected to said pressure plate, a mechanical force generating mechanism on said cross mount, said mechanical force generating mechanism including a crank shaft rotatably journaled on said cross mount, a worm gear mechanism operatively connected between said crank shaft and said pinion, a first ratchet mechanism including a first ratchet wheel rotatable with said crank shaft and a first pawl pivoted on said cross mount, a second ratchet mechanism including a second ratchet wheel rotatable with said crank shaft and a second pawl, a handle rotatably mounted with respect to said cross mount, said pawl being pivoted with respect to said handle, said first pawl when engaged with said first ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft in one direction but not in the opposite direction, said first pawl when disengaged from said first ratchet wheel permittIng rotation of said crank shaft in both directions, said second pawl when engaged with said second ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft with respect to said handle in one direction but not in the opposite direction, said second pawl when disengaged from said second pawl when disengaged from said second ratchet wheel permitting rotation of said crank shaft in both directions with respect to said handle, said first pawl being normally engaged with said first ratchet wheel, said second pawl being normally engaged with said second ratchet wheel, a first latch when operative for causing said first pawl to be disengaged from said first ratchet wheel, a second latch when operative for causing said second pawl to be locked with respect to said second ratchet wheel, whereby reciprocation of said handle with said first latch and said second latch operative causes force to be exerted on said pressure plate and compaction of refuse in said receptacle, and rotation of said handle with said first latch and said second latch is inoperative causes removal of said pressure platen from said receptacle, and housing including a storage cabinet above said chamber, the path of travel of said rack being within said storage cabinet. 